Sunday, July 6, 2008

"Here I Am!"

Here I am. I'm the new pastor, this is my family, and here we are! I shared a few details about who I am. I then spoke of my call to ministry.

Here I am. Isaiah's response to God was "Here I am, send me." This text shows us a great example of the Mysterium Tremendum, the Holy "otherness" of God. When we truly experience God, it is live changing and life altering. In the midst of Isaiah's experience with God, he receives a call to ministry. He responds positively. Here I am. Send me. He joins God's mission to reconcile this world.

Here I am. God has a mission of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 shares with us that God has called us to task to share the message of Reconciliation: Forgiveness and being made new in and through Christ. God still calls today: Isaiah said, "Here I am. Send me." Where are you? God is calling. Are you ready to respond to God? God is calling. Are you ready to say...

Here I am. Send me.

I thought the service went well, and I was pleasantly surprised that I felt totally comfortable and at home. My prayer is that every Sunday that we are present, we would experience this AWESOME God, and fall deeper in love with our Savior, Redeemer, Creator, and Friend. Stephanie and I look forward to years of new experiences and great ministry serving alongside the people of Winchester First UMC.